Goose Island Smoked Porter

Brewed by Goose Island Beer Company (Brewpubs)
Style: Smoked
Chicago, Illinois USA

Serve in Dimpled mug, Lager glass, Stein

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On Tap @ GI- Dark brown, almost no head. Great cigar-esque nose. Smokey body with a bit of chocolate on the back, lively body lends to a good blend of smoke. Not too over the top in the smoke which is a plus in my book.

Cask conditioned at the brewpub, Wrigleyville location
Black color; unfortunately served in a plastic cup because of the game. Mild aroma. Quite strong flavor of roasted malt and chocolate malt, smoked, even salami, and roasted nuts; but the body is too thin, not enough body, short final. I would not be surprised if they used liquid smoke. Overall not bad, drinkable, but the final is hard to stand (strangely bitter).

i would have liked more campfire flavor and roasty goodness in this porter. it was a little thin for my taste.

A bit smokey and quite roasty. Still, has nothing on the Bamberg malts of Schlenkerla. But, even so, still a decent enough beer.

Cask at Wrigleyville. Black with large creamy head. Noise is a lot of smoke, very meaty, some chocolate. Flavor is also meaty with burnt sugar. Medium body and pretty creamy. Very nice.

Tap at Clybourn in MBA glass: Deep brown with ruby highlights, small fading beige head and some lace. The aroma has notes of smoked wood, bacon, walnut, toffee, prune, and other earthy esters. The taste starts smoky as expected but not overpowering, nicely meaty. The sweeter malt and nutty character does show towards the finish. A bit chalky and dry, a tad too thin as well. A solid brew but could be so much more.

on tap at clybourn. pours dark with a red tint to it and no head. smells very smokey and meaty. tastes very meaty with some sweet caramel and roasted malts. more smoked than porter, something just isn’t working with this one.

On tap @ Clybourn. Pours a dark brown black with a thin head that disapates to a few beige streaks. Roasted malts are of course the first notes, smokey bacon as Goose is so good at with charred edges. The nose isn’t hit me in the face strong as smokes can be but strong enough to detect. Flavors begin slightly sweet with coffee and bakers chocolate, rounding out with a little smoke and slightly dry. Thinner body and lighter flavors than I would have liked, but still good.

I’m not extensively familiar with smoked beer styles, but I’ve had a few, and I found this one to be a rather drinkable example for the style. For a style that is in my mind rather undrinkable, I would call this a good thing! It’s color is a nearly opaque black with a whisper of foam across the top. Aroma is similar to smoked sausage, and a bit intriguing. Flavor is more smokiness and summer-sausageness backed with some roastiness. Mouthfeel is a bit watery, but I think this is probably the most drinkable rauchbier I’ve yet had.

Sampled from tap at the Goose Island Beer Company (Clybourn) on 11/12/2006... Opaque, dark reddish brown color with a dense tan head. Roasted malt flavor and slightly fruity. Smooth finish. Very, very subtle smoke in the slightly dry finish. A bit thin on the palate. Not nearly enough smoke in this one and not nearly complex or deep enough...